Suspected Fulani militants attack another Plateau community, kill pastor’s son

A young man, said to be the son of a pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, was reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants in a fresh attack in Kuk village, Gashish District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night.

Conflict journalist, Masara Kim Usman, who confirmed the incident in a post he shared on his Facebook page, said the terrorists, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the pastor’s house at about 10:30pm and opened fire sporadically, killing the young man in the process.

“Armed militants identified by local sources as Fulani reportedly attacked the residence of a COCIN pastor in Kuk village, Gashish District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area at about 10:30pm. 

“According to local sources, between three and five gunmen forcibly broke into the home of the leading Pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, in Kuk, firing automatic weapons for several minutes. The Pastor’s son was fatally shot during the invasion,” Usman wrote. 

He stated that the attack was, however, curtailed by the swift intervention of local civilian guards who engaged the assailants and forced them to flee before soldiers arrived from their base located three miles away, saving the rest of the family from further harm.

Another post shared by the President of the Berom Youth-Moulders Association, BYM, Solomon Mwantiri, indicated that, before the attack, there was a security alert to that effect.

The warning read:

“Urgent Terror Alert- Barkin Ladi, Riyom LGAs, Plateau State, Nigeria 

“Armed men identified by locals as Fulani militants have been sighted advancing toward villages 30-35 miles south of Jos.

“As of 1900hrs WAT Sunday, August 2, gunshots are reportedly being heard in the distance around Rim village in Riyom LGA. Another armed group on motorcycles has been spotted moving toward Ropp District in neighboring Barkin Ladi LGA, according to local sources. 

“Communities such as Rim, Gwon, Gwa-Rim, Jol, Tanjol, Wereng and surrounding settlements in Riyom LGA; Wereh, Dorowa Babuje, Nding and surrounding settlements in Barkin Ladi LGA are advised to be on high alert.

“Residents should maintain maximum vigilance, avoid isolated routes, and report any suspicious movement immediately to community leaders and security agencies.

“The military and other law enforcement agencies are urged to reinforce security presence in these areas urgently.”